Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Canada
Canada: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 82.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
82.9%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
61st
of 238 countries
All-time high
82.9%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Canada, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Canada stood at 82.9%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Canada peaked at 82.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Canada 61st out of 238 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.2% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.7% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 2.0% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 2.0% | -0.8% |
| 1720 | 2.3% | +16.7% |
| 1730 | 2.7% | +16.7% |
| 1740 | 3.1% | +16.7% |
| 1750 | 3.7% | +16.7% |
| 1760 | 4.3% | +16.7% |
| 1770 | 5.0% | +16.7% |
| 1780 | 5.8% | +16.7% |
| 1790 | 6.8% | +16.7% |
| 1800 | 7.9% | +16.7% |
| 1810 | 9.3% | +16.7% |
| 1820 | 10.8% | +16.7% |
| 1830 | 12.6% | +16.7% |
| 1840 | 14.7% | +16.7% |
| 1850 | 17.2% | +16.7% |
| 1860 | 20.0% | +16.7% |
| 1870 | 23.4% | +16.7% |
| 1880 | 27.3% | +16.7% |
| 1890 | 31.8% | +16.7% |
| 1900 | 37.5% | +17.9% |
| 1910 | 45.4% | +21.1% |
| 1920 | 49.5% | +9.0% |
| 1930 | 56.0% | +13.1% |
| 1940 | 60.0% | +7.1% |
| 1950 | 62.2% | +3.7% |
| 1951 | 63.0% | +1.3% |
| 1952 | 63.8% | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 64.6% | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 65.3% | +1.1% |
| 1955 | 66.0% | +1.1% |
| 1956 | 66.7% | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 67.3% | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 67.9% | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 68.5% | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 69.0% | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 69.7% | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 70.4% | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 71.3% | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 72.1% | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 72.9% | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 73.6% | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 74.3% | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 75.0% | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 75.5% | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 75.9% | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 76.1% | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 76.0% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 75.9% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 75.7% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 75.6% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 75.5% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 75.5% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 75.6% | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 75.6% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 75.7% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 75.7% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 75.9% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 76.0% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 76.2% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 76.4% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 76.5% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 76.5% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 76.5% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 76.5% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 76.6% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 76.6% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 76.7% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 77.0% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 77.3% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 77.6% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 77.9% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 78.1% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 78.3% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 78.4% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 78.6% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 78.8% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 79.1% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 79.4% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 79.7% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 80.0% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 80.2% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 80.4% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 80.7% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 80.9% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 81.0% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 81.1% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 81.2% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 81.2% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 81.3% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 81.4% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 81.7% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 82.0% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 82.2% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 82.4% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 82.5% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 82.7% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 82.9% | +0.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 82.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1 |
| 1760s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1770s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
| 1790s | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1 |
| 1800s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 1810s | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1830s | 12.6% | 12.6% | 12.6% | 1 |
| 1840s | 14.7% | 14.7% | 14.7% | 1 |
| 1850s | 17.2% | 17.2% | 17.2% | 1 |
| 1860s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 23.4% | 23.4% | 23.4% | 1 |
| 1880s | 27.3% | 27.3% | 27.3% | 1 |
| 1890s | 31.8% | 31.8% | 31.8% | 1 |
| 1900s | 37.5% | 37.5% | 37.5% | 1 |
| 1910s | 45.4% | 45.4% | 45.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 49.5% | 49.5% | 49.5% | 1 |
| 1930s | 56.0% | 56.0% | 56.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 60.0% | 60.0% | 60.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 65.5% | 62.2% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 72.4% | 69.0% | 75.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 75.8% | 75.5% | 76.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 76.2% | 75.7% | 76.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.5% | 76.6% | 78.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.8% | 78.6% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.3% | 81.0% | 81.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.4% | 82.0% | 82.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 58 New Zealand 84.0% compare
- 59 Norway 83.6% compare
- 60 United Kingdom 83.3% compare
- 62 Germany 82.1% compare
- 63 Falkland Islands 81.5% compare
- 64 Bahamas 81.3% compare
More population data for Canada
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2634 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 45,891 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7644 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.3863 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Population density 6.1 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.33 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Canada?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Canada was 82.9% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 82.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Canada rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Canada ranks 61st out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.